We loved it too and created many “thingies” with it. However, as experienced software engineers, we also had a few points of critique. While OpenSCAD is easy to learn and has a syntax reminiscent of C, we felt the language could be improved in several ways:

more specialization for creating graphics,

better support for modular programming,

strict typing and unit handling,

a syntax closer to Rust than to C,

a solid library system,

plugin support for other programming languages,

and a more powerful visualization concept.

[–] CorneliusTalmadge@lemmy.world 8 points 4 months ago (2 children)

“As experienced software engineers” highlights the problem with many CAD solutions. People who design physical “thingies” professionally are generally not software engineers.

We of course need a viable solution as an open source product but a lot of this is recreating the wheel without any knowledge of how the wheel is being used or why it is even useful to begin with. So you essentially end up with a knock off version of the wheel that doesn’t work the way someone who is experienced with wheels expects it to work.

[–] grapemix@lemmy.ml 6 points 4 months ago

In general, I agree with your idea. But this time we are not talking about another todo app or YouTube clients which have so many similar projects. Open source community doesn't have new cad in the last 10 yrs (roughly in my memory) so I hope ppl can support them more. I hope they can interact with blender more.

[–] Damage@feddit.it 5 points 4 months ago

People who design physical thingies professionally do not use OpenSCAD. Maybe a handful do all over the world.